Control for filling machine

ABSTRACT

A filling head for filling containers and bottles provided with a nozzle to which liquid is supplied through valve means for at first delivering the liquid to the nozzle at a slow rate to submerge the nozzle without foaming and then delivering the liquid at a faster rate to effect filling quickly, characterized in that the valve means, according to this invention, is controlled to terminate the filling operation by first closing the valve controlling the fast flow and thereafter the valve controlling the slow flow to enable filling containers with small diameter necks, long slender necks and tapering necks to a predetermined level without overfill and to a uniform height from container-to-container.

United States Patent 1111 Trusselle 1 1 CONTROL FOR FILLING MACHINEWilliam H. Trusselle. Braintree. Mass.

[73] Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation.

Quincy. Mass.

22 Filed: 01.26, 1973 [21 App1.No.:410.115

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 186.031. Oct.4. 1971.

[75] Inventor:

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..1-l1/128;141/152 [51] Int. Cl. B65B 3/26 [581 Field ofSearch 137/386; 141/1. 4. 5, 13.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.195.585 7/1965 Fechheimer141/1 1451 Nov. 11, 1975 Trusselle.... 141/40 Curtis et :11. 141/1111 X5 7 1 ABSTRACT A filling head for filling containers and bottles proidedwith a nozzle to which liquid is supplied through valve means for atfirst delivering the liquid to the nozzle at. a slow rate to submergethe nozzle without foaming and then delivering the liquid at a fasterrate to effect filling quickly. characterized in that the valve means.according to this invention. is controlled to terminate the fillingoperation by first closing the valve controlling the fast flow andthereafter the valve controlling the slow flow to enable fillingcontainers with small diameter necks. long slender necks and taperingnecks to a predetermined level without overfill and to a uniform heightfrom container-to-container.

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 1 of7 3,918,475

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ATTORNEY US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet6of7 3,918,475

INVENTOF? 8y Wi/l/am H. Trussel/e 214 M, gar W AT TOR/VF Y BACKGROLJ DOF THE INVENTION In my US. Pat. No. 3,626,998 there is disclosed acontainer filling machine provided with a plurality of filling headsmovable circularly about a common ccn tcr above a correspondinglymovablesupporting structure on which are mounted supports for holdingcontaincrs below the respective filling heads for filling. Duringrotation ofthe filling head and supporting structure an adjustable camsuccessively effects operation of each head to fill the containersupported below it. According to the aforesaid application each fillinghead is provided with valve means for initially supplying liquid to thecontainer at a relatively slow rate to a level such as to submerge thelower end of the filling nozzle and thereafter to supply the liquid at afaster rate so as to fill the container quickly without causing foaming.In the aforesaid apparatus the valve means embodies a slow flow passageand a fast flow passage and valve elements respectively operable to openfirst the slow flow passage and then the fast flow passage. At the endof the filling operation filling is terminated by blocking flow ofliquid through both of the passages. For containers which aresubstantially uniform in cross-section from bottom to top. the aforesaidapparatus is quite satisfactory. However. when filling containers whichhave necks of small diameter or long. slender tapering necks. if theliquid is supplied at the same rate near the top as lower down. fillingtakes place so rapidly that it is difficult to control the cut-offwithout overflow and/or to maintain a uniform fill level for allcontainers of a kind. This invention has for its specific purpose toenable more precise control at the termination of the filling operationso as to avoid overflow and insure a uniform filling level fromcontainer-to-container.

SUMMARY In a container filling machine wherein a filling head issupported above a container support for supplying liquid to a containerresting on the support, said filling head having a filling nozzleadapted to be moved into the container and means for effecting movementof the nozzle to lower the nozzle into the container; valve meansoperable to supply liquid to the nozzle at a slow rate and thereafter ata faster rate and sensing means associated with the nozzle operable. asthe level of the liquid rises in the container. to first disable saidvalve means to stop the fast flow and then to further disable said valvemeans to stop the slow flow. There is means for initiating operation ofthe valve means to start the slow flow when the lower end of the nozzlestarts its downward movement into the container, means for initiatingoperation of the valve means to start the fast flow when the lower endof the nozzle becomes submerged. and means for disabling operation ofthe valve means to stop fast flow when the nozzle reaches apredetermined distance from the top and thereafter further disabling thevalve means to stop the slow flow and hence stop the filling operation.The means for disabling the operation of the valve means to stop thefast flow and thereafter stop the slow flow comprise sensing tubesthrough which air flows at a substantially constant and uniform rate.the sensing tubes being vertically spaced in relation to each other andto the container and being supported by the nozzle within the containerduring the filling operation. the lower one of the sensing tubes beingoperable to disable the valve controlling the fast How and the upper oneof the sensing tubes being operable to disable the value controlling theslow flow. A control circuit responsive to the back pressure developedin the sensing tubes as the liquid rises in the container effectsclosing of the fast and slow filling valves.

While the provision of the two sensing tubes is de scribed inconjunction with a nozzle which is lowered into the container and withvalve means which provides for slow feed and fast feed. it is within thescope of the invention to employ two sensing tubes for first stoppingthe fast feed and thereafter stopping thc slow feed with fillingapparatus wherein the nozzle is introduced into the container by raisingthe container over the nozzle rather than lowering the nozzle into thecontainer and wherein a filling valve is employed which fills thecontainer at a uniform rate rather than at different rates.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a front elevation of a filling head of a filling machine shownin relation to a container supported therebelow;

FIG. la is a front elevation of the machine above the head showing thecontrol for effecting operation of the fast and slow valves;

FIG. 2 is an elevation taken from the right-hand side of FIG. I showingthe filling nozzle projected into the container;

FIG. 3 is a diametrical section ofa portion of the filling head and ofthe filling nozzle;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view. partly in elevation and partly in section.showing the fast and slow flow control valves;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the means for raising and lowering the nozzle;

FIG. 6 is a view. partly in elevation and partly in sec tion. showingthe control for effecting operation of the fast and slow valves;

FIG. 7 is a plan view. partly in section. of clamping blocks foradjusting the height of the sensing tubes;

FIG. 8 is a section of an interface valve in the control circuit; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the control circuit.

The filling apparatus disclosed herein is similar in many respects tothat shown in my US. Pat. Nos. 3,580,298 and 3,626,998 to whichreference may be had for such details as are common and because they arenot directly concerned with the invention herein will not be described.In general. the apparatus has a plurality of filling heads mounted inspaced relation peripherally ofa turret for movement about a verticalaxis above a supporting structure on which are circularly arrangedcontainer supports for supporting containers below the filling heads.The turret and container support move in consonance and during suchmovement containers are supplied by a conveyor to the container supportsmounted on the supporting structure. one below each filling head. Acentering device is brought down over the upper end of the container tocenter it with respect to the nozzle whereupon the support is raised toengage the container with the lower end of the nozzle. In the aforesaidapplication engagement of a container with the centering device isrequired to condition the apparatus for a filling operation. Anadjustable cam relative to which the turret and supporting structurerotate initiates the filling operation by lowering the nozzle into thecontainer and by opening a valve controlling the flow of liquid throughthe nozzle. Following the filling operation the nozzle is retracted, thecontainer support lowered to clear the upper end of the containertherefrom whereupon the centering device is raised and the filledcontainer is discharged. In accor dance with that invention. the fillinghead was provided with valve means embodying slow and fast flow passagescontaining valves and these were operated in succession when a fillingoperation was initiated to first open the slow flow valve passage andthen to open the fast flow valve passage. The purpose was to deliver theliquid into the container to a depth to submerge the lower end of thenozzle during the early stage of filling to minimize foaming and aftersubmergence to fill the container rapidly to completion. The presentapparatus continues to embody valve means of the foregoing kind withcontrol means whereby the valve in the fast flow passage is closed firstfollowed by closing of the valve in the slow flow passage. the purposeof which is to eliminate overfill of a container with a small diameterand/or long, thin or tapering neck and to insure filling to the samelevel in all containers. With this general account of the organizationof the apparatus and its operation, the invention will now be describedwith reference to a single filling head since the several heads are allidentical in construction and operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the turret which supports the filling headsfor rotation about a vertical axis is shown at having a flat, annularface to which are secured at equally spaced intervals bracket members12, each bracket being designed to support a filling head 14 (FIGS. 3and 4), a cylinder 16 (FIGS. 1A and 5) for effecting operation of theliquid valve therein, valve means 18 (FIG. 4) for controlling the flowof liquid to the filling head and control means 20 (FIGS. IA and 6) bymeans of which the filling operation is initiated and terminated.

The filling head 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4) comprises a block 22 of circularcross-section fastened to the bracket I2 by a clamp collar 24 so that itis situated radially outwardly of the turret and contains an internalvertically disposed cylindrical chamber 26. The block has at its upperand lower ends threaded extensions 26a and 26b. The chamber 26 has nearits upper end a lateral opening 28 which is in communication with theaforesaid valve means through which liquid is delivered to the chamberand from thence to a nozzle 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) supported within a tube32 which. in turn. is supported in a sleeve 33 having a part 34 at oneend corresponding substantially in diameter to the inside diameter ofthe chamber and a circumferential flange 36 of large diameter set intothe extension 26b with the flange 36 against the lower end of theextension and secured thereto by a threaded cap 38. The cap 38 containsa central opening 40 through which the lower part of the sleeve 33extends. The sleeve 33 contains a smooth cylindrical bore 41 in which isfixed the upper end of the tube 32, the lower end of which extendsaxially beyond the lower end of the sleeve 33 and which is of an outsidediameter of a dimension to extend through the top opening of thecontainer to be filled. The nozzle 30 is of smaller diameter than thetube 32 and is slidably mounted in the tube 32 with its upper endsecured to an adapter 46 containing an axial bore 48. A radial port 50connects the bore 48 to the interior of the nozzle 30. The upper end ofthe adapter 46 is connected to the lower end of a rod 52 which passesupwardly through a gland 54 situated in the extension 26a and is held inplace by a cap 56 and provides means for effecting vertical movement ofthe nozzle to lower it into the container and raise it therefrom as willbe described hereinafter. The lower end of the nozzle 30 has threadedinto it a valve head 58 corresponding to the inside diameter of the tube32 which contains an axial passage 60, the upper end of which is incommunication with the interior of the nozzle and the lower end of whichhas divergent. downardly extending ports 62-62 which extend through thesides of the valve head. Below the ports 6262 the head contains anannular groove 64 in which there is disposed a sealing ring 66. When thevalve head 58 is withdrawn into the tube 32 the ports 62-62 are closedby the wall of the tube and the liquid will stand in the nozzle 30 fromthe ports all the way to the chamber. When the valve head 58 is extendedfrom the tube 32, the liquid will be free to flow through the ports intothe container within which the nozzle is situated.

The rod 52, as related above, provides for raising and lowering thenozzle within the supporting tube 32 and is connected at its upper endby a coupling member 68 (FIGS. 1A and 5) to which it is removablyattached by engagement of a T-shaped head 69 within a slot 71 in thecoupling member. the latter being connected to the lower end of a pistonrod 72 extending downwardly from the lower end of the cylinder 16. Alatch plate retains the T-shaped head within the slot. The cylinder 16is mounted in a vertical position in vertical alignment with the nozzleby a series of supports comprising the bracket I2 which has a verticalarm 76, a bar 78 bolted at its lower end to the arm 76 and a clampbracket 80 fixed to the upper end of the bar 78. Pressure supplied tothe upper end of the cylinder 16 will displace the piston downwardlytherein and hence the rod downwardly to project the valve head 58 fromthe tube 32. Venting the pressure from the upper end of the cylinder 16will permit the valve head to be drawn into the tube 32 to stop flow aswill appear hereinafter.

As related above. the valve means 18 is designed to provide for slow andfast flow and comprises a valve block 82 (FIG. 4) containing a chamber84 situated between its upper and lower ends. The valve block contains aport 86 through one side within which is fitted an end of a conductor 88through which the liquid with which the container is to be filled ispermitted to enter the chamber 84. At the bottom of the chamber 84 thereare spaced parallel, vertically disposed passages 90, 92. The upper endsof the passages 90, 92 have conical seats 94, 96. The lower ends of thepassages are connected to a transverse passage 98 in an adapter block100 bolted to the bottom side of the valve block. One end of the passage98 is closed and the other end extends through a nipple 102 provided atthe end of the adapter block. The nipple 102 is engaged within one endof a coupling 104, the latter being fixed in the opening 28.Intermediate the top and bottom of the valve block there is a transverseopening 108 which intersects the passages 92, 94 within which there isremovably disposed a bar 110 containing spaced parallel passages I12,114 so located that when the bar 110 is inserted and locked in place byengagement of a latch plate I16 with a groove 119 therein, the axes ofthe passages 112. 114 coincide with the axes of the passages 90, 92. Thepassages 112,114 may correspond in diameter with the passages 90. 92 ormay he ola different diameter.

Control of the flow of liquid through the valve block 82 is afforded byvalve elements 118,120 supported in the valve block 82in glands 122. 124for vertical movement relative to the seats 94. 96. The lower ends ofthe valve elements 118, 120 have conical tips 126, 128 for engagementwith the conical seats and the conical surfaces therefore containsealing rings to provide for a liquid tight seal when engaged with theseats. The upper ends of the valve elements contain axially threadedholes 130. 132 which provide for attaching the valve elements to thelower ends of piston rods 134, I36 extending downwardly from cylinders138, 140 supported above the valve block 82 by means of a bracket arm142 fixed to the bracket 12. The valve elements 118, 120 are threadedonto the piston rods to enable adjusting them and are slotted to receivepins 144, 146 to prevent rotation thereon. The lower ends of thecylinders 138, 140 are provided with coupling means 148, 150 by means ofwhich conductors of air pressure are connected thereto to effect upwardmovement of the pistons and hence the valve elements to disengage thevalve elements from the seats. Venting of the pressure to the cylinderspermits the pistons to descend thereby engaging the valve elements withthe seats and, as will appear hereinafter, the pistons are lower by airabove the pistons which is compressed during the upward displacement ofthe pistons.

The control means (FIGS. 1A, 6 and 9) comprises a valve block assembly150 mounted on a post 152 and is similar to that shown in the aforesaidapplication in that it embodies valves A and B for initiating,respectively, the filling operation and a blow-down operation to clearthe ends of the sensing tubes which are to be described hereinafter.these valves having externally located actuating elements A-l, 8-1 whichare tripped by the aforesaid cam as the filling head travels relativethereto. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9 the valve A when tripped suppliespilot pressure through conductor pl to one end of a normally closedthree-way valve C to shift the latter to a position to permit linepressure to pass through a conductor p2 to a normally closed valve Dwhich is connected by a conductor p3 to the upper end of the cylinder16. Opening the valve D supplies pressure from an independent source ofpressure to the upper end of cylinder 16 to start the downward movementof the piston therein and hence projection of the nozzle 30 from thetube 32. At the same time line pressure is supplied through theconductor p2 to the lower end ofthe cylinder I38 to raise the pistonthereon and hence to disengage the valve element 118 from its seat. Asthe piston in the cylinder [6 descends the rod 52 moves downwardly andthe latter has on it an adjustably mounted block I56 (FIG. IA). Atwo-way normally closed valve E (FIG. 9) provided with a trip 158 ismounted close to the rod 52 so that as the rod de scends the block willpass by the trip I58 and momen tarily open the valve E. Opening valve Epermits a pulse of line pressure to flow through the valve E and aconductor p4 to normally closed three-way valve F. shifting the latterto position to permit line pressure to flow through a conductor p5 tothe lower end ofthe cylinder 140 thus to disengage the valve element 120from its seat to permit fast flow.

The valve C, as shown in US. Pat. No. 3.580.298 and in FIG. 8 comprisesa diaphragm-supported valve element 29 normally held closed by linepressure supplied thereto by a conductor p6 at the right end. as shownin FIG. 8. Tripping the valve A supplies a pulse of pressure throughconductor pl to the left end of the valve C which displaces the valveelement to the right. Displacement of the valve element to the rightallows the line pressure to enter the central chamber 31 and flowthrough the conductor p2 to the valve D and to the cylinder I38 andsimultaneously through an axial passage p7 in the valve element to theleft end thereof to hold the valve element open until the pressure isexhausted at that end.

In the aforesaid pending application the two valves 118, remain openuntil the container is filled whereupon they are closed by sensing meanswhich detect the level ofthe liquid in the container. The shut-offcomprises closing the slow flow valte which. because of its seriesrelation with the fast flow valve. results in terminating the fillingoperation. According to this invention, it is desirable to shut off theflow sequentially. first the fast flow and then the slow flow. This isaccomplished herein by employing two sensing devices comprising (FIGS.2. 3 and 9) a sensing tube and a sensing tube 162 mounted on the sleeve33 in parallel relation thereto and vertically adjustable thereof. Thesensing tubes are mounted on the sleeve so that when the latter issituated within the opening at the top ofthe container the sensing tubeswill be in the container at the position where it is desirable to shutoff the flow to obtain the desired final level. The lower end of thetube 160 is situated at a lower level than the lower end of the tube 162and it controls closing of the fast feed valve while the sensing tube162 controls closing of the slow feed valve. Adjustment of the sensingtubes is provided for by vertically disposed clamp blocks 164-164 and166-166 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 7) mounted on the sleeve 33. One ofthe blocks ofeach pair of blocks contains recesses through which the tubes pass. Therecesses in the upper block 164, are. respectively, a small recess 168and a large recess 170 and in the lower block 166, respectively. a largerecess 172 and a small recess 174. The upper blocks 164-464 when drawninto clamping relation will bind the tube passing through the smallerrecess against the sleeve but will leave the tube passing through thelarger recess free. The lower blocks 166-l66 when drawn into clampingrelation will bind the tube passing through the smaller recess againstthe sleeve but will leave the tube passing through the larger one free.Screws 176 and 178 provide for drawing the blocks together about thenozzles.

Referring to FIG. 9, the sensing tube 160 is connected by a conductor p8to a normally closed threeway valve G, one end of which is connected toa source oflow pressure sensing air. The valve G, during the fill ingoperation, permits sensing air to pass through it to the sensing tube160. Back pressure developed in the sensing tube 160 is communicated byway of conductor p9, relay RA and conductor p10 to a three-way normallyclosed interface valve H, allowing the latter to vent. Venting the valveH vents the pressure at the end of the three-way normally closed valve Fby way of conductor p4, allowing it to shift back to its normally closedposition thereby venting pressure by way of con ductor p5 from the lowerend of the cylinder 140. Valve F is of the same construction as valve C.When the lower end of the cylinder I40 is vented the pressure at theupper end of the cylinder will lower the piston therein to engage thevalve element l2t) with its seat. Thus when the liquid reaches the lowerend of the sensing tube 160 the fast filling valve element 120 will beclosed, Filling will continue but at a slow rate until the level reachesthe lower end of the sensing tube 162. The sensing tube 162 is connectedby a conductor pl 1 to a three-way normally closed valve J. to one endof which sensing air is supplied and through which it flows to thesensing tube. Back pressure developed in the sensing tube 162 iscommunicated through a conductor pll. relay RB and relay Rl containing apin p-x which operates to block a jet I64. Blocking the jet 164increases the pressure in a relay R2 by way of conductor pl causing itto retract a pin 11- which normally closes an exhaust jet 166. Openingthe exhaust jet 166 allows escape of pressure by way of conductor p14from the end of the normally closed three-way valve C thereby shiftingit to its closed position which, in turn, vents the line pressurethrough conductor p2 from the bottom of the cylinder I38 and the valveD, allowing the latter to close and thus exhaust the air from thecylinder l6 and simultaneously vents the line pressure from the cylinder138. Both the cylinder [6 and the cylinder 138 are connected to the lowpressure line so that when vented the pressure at the upper end of thecylinder l38 will lower the piston therein to close the slow flow valveelement and at the lower end ofthe cylinder 16 will raise the pistontherein to retract the nozzle.

The relays RA and RB are restrictors and the relays R1 and R2 are likethose shown in my pending application Ser. No. 160,840, filed July 8,i971 and as shown herein in FIG. 6. The relay RI comprises a diaphragm11 which supports the pin p-x opposite the nozzle 164 so that the backpressure developed in the sensing tube 160 will move the pin p-x towardthe nozzle thereby blocking the flow of air from the nozzle. Blockingthe flow of air from the nozzle I64 increases the pressure in thecontrol circuit and this is conveyed through the conductor p13 to therelay R2. The pin p-y of relay R2 is supported by spaced diaphragms l3,15 with an end opposite the jet 166. Displacement of the pin pv awayfrom the jet 166 allows venting of the control circuit by way ofconductor pl4. Both diaphragm-supported pins p-.t. p-y are provided withspring means and adjustmerits for adjusting their resistance todisplacement. Relay RA is a restrictor which blocks flow of the sensingair and permits the back pressure to shift a dia phragm-supported valveelement 17 in the three-way valve H thus to vent the pressure from thevalve F. To provide for more reliable response of the diaphragmsupportedvalve element the righthand end of the valve element is loaded by meansof a spring 19 which is adapted to be adjusted by means of ascrew-threaded pin 2|.

The circuit embodies. as described in the pending application. ano-bottle, no-fill" valve comprising an exhaust valve K (FIG. 9) whichremains open as long as there is no container in place for filling. Whena container is lifted against the centering device the latter closes theexhaust valve K so that the circuit becomes operative.

As in the prior machine there is means for effecting clearing of thesensing tubes by blowing high pressure air through them at times. Theblow-down is effected by tripping the normally closed valve 8 which isactuated by the trip lever B-l. Tripping the valve B (FIGS. 6 and 9)first shifts the valves J and G to block the low pressure sensing linesand then shifts the valve L which permits variable blow-down pressure topass through the valves L, J and G into and through the sensing tubesI62, 160. The valves J and G are arranged to be closed to prevent theblowdown pressure from reaching the relays.

The valve L is like that shown in the aforesaid pending application inthat pressure supplied to it by tripping the valve B operates todisplace a piston 23 (FIG. 6) which in turn. by means of a rod 25connected to the piston. opens a normally closed three-way valve 27which supplies blow down pressure to the valves J and G.

It is to be observed that there are check valves M and N in theconductors for the sensing tubes to prevent rise of liquid through theminto the valves .1 and G.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In a filling machine, a machine frame, a plurality of filling headsincluding nozzles extending downwardly therefrom and a correspondingnumber of con' tainer supports means supporting the filling heads andcontainer supports with the nozzles centered above the supports forrotation about a vertical axis, means for supplying empty containers tothe container supports and pneumatically operative means for effectingrela tive movement of the filling heads and container supports toposition the nozzles within the containers adjacent to the bottoms forfilling and withdrawal following filling, each filling head having apneumatically operable supply valve operative to supply liquid to eachnoz zle through its associated filling head said pneumatically operablesupply valve containing a primary passage through which liquid isadapted to flow at a relatively slow rate throughout the fillingoperation and a secondary passage through which additional liquid isadapted to flow during the period between initiating the fillingoperation and terminating the filling operation, said pneumaticallyoperable supply valve includ ing a first valve element operable to openand close the primary passage to commence and terminate the fillingoperation and a second valve element in the secondary passage to openand close the secondary passage while the liquid continues to flowthrough the primary passage. a pneumatic control circuit within whichthe pneumatically operable means and the pneumatically operable supplyvalve are included a first trip valve in the control circuit operable ata predetermined place in the rotation of the filling heads and containersupports to effect operation of the pneumatically operable means andsimultaneously the pneumatically operable supply valve to open the firstvalve element simulta neously with the movement of the nozzle to saidposition adjacent the bottom ofthe container, a second trip valveoperable to effect operation of said pneumatically operable supply valveat said position of the nozzle adjacent the bottom of the container toopen the second valve element and sensing means included in the controlcircuit supported together with the nozzle within the container andmovable into and out of the container with the nozzle, said sensingmeans being operative when the liquid rises in the container to apredetermined level to effect operation of the pneumatically operablesupply valve to close the second valve element to terminate thesupplemental flow through the secondary passage without terminating theflow through the primary passage and thereafter to effect operation ofthe pneumatically operable supply valve and the pneumatically operablemeans. to close the first valve element to terminate the flow throughthe primary passage and withdraw the nozzle front the con tainer.

2. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles arearranged to be extended downwardly from the filling heads and said meansfor effecting relative movement of the nozzles and container supportsextends the nozzles downwardly towards the container supports into thecontainers and upwardly to withdraw them therefrom.

3. A filling machine according to claim 2, wherein the sensing means aresecured to the nozzles and extended therewith into the containers.

4. A filling machine according to claim 2, wherein the sensing meanscomprises for each nozzle two sensing elements secured to the nozzle atdifferent levels, the lower of said sensing elements operating to causethe second valve element to close and the higher of the sensing elementsoperating to cause the first valve element to close.

5. A filling machine according to claim 4, wherein there is means foradjusting the level of the sensing elements relative to the nozzle.

6. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary passageis of larger cross-section than the primary passage.

7. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein said pneumaticallyoperative supply valve embodies first and second pneumatically operablecylinders con nected respectively to the first and second valveelements, said first trip valve supplies operating pressure to the firstcylinder, said second trip valve supplies operating pressure to thesecond cylinder and said sensing means operating to successively bleedsaid second cylinder and then said first cylinder.

8. In a filling machine, a machine frame, upper and lower supportsmounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, filling headsmounted peripherally on the upper support, container supports mountedperipherally on the lower support below the filling heads. a nozzleextending downwardly from each filling head toward the container supporttherebelow. said nozzle being adapted to be extended and retractedrelative to the lower support to enter it into a container restingthereon and to retract it therefrom, pneumatically operable means foreffecting extension and retraction, a supply valve connected to eachfilling head for supplying fluid to the filling heads and from thence tothe nozzles. means for supplying containers to the lower support, meansfor rotating the supports in unison relative to the means for supplyingcontainers to the lower support, said supply valve having pneumaticallyoperable valve means containing first and second valves and first andsecond valve operating means. said first valve being operable tocommence and terminate the filling operation and said second valve beingoperable while liquid continues to flow through the first who to supplement flow through the first \al\c to increase the rate of filling andbeing operative to terminate the supplemental flo without terminatingthe flow through the first valve to decrease the rate of fill. a firsttrip valve operable by rotational movement of the supports as a fillinghead and support moves away from the means for supplying containersthereto to effect operation of the pneumatically operable means forextending the nozzle and simultaneously to effect operation of the firstvalve operating means. a second trip valve operable simultaneously withextension of the nozzle to the bottom of the container to effectoperation of the second valve operating means and sensing meanssupported by the nozzle and movable into the container therewithembodying vertically spaced first and second sensing elements, saidfirst sensing element being operative when the liquid rises in thecontainer to a predetermined level to effect operation of the secondvalve operating means and the second sensing means being operable toeffect operation of the means for extending and retracting the nozzle toretract the latter and simultaneously to effect operation of the firstvalve operating means.

9. In a filling machine. a machine frame. upper and lower supportsmounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis. filling headsmounted peripherally of the upper support and a corresponding number ofcontainer supports mounted on the lower support. spaced conveyor meanssupported peripherally of the supports for delivering empty containersto the container supports and receiving filled containers therefrom,means for effecting rotation of the supports in unision and means forfilling the containers during rotational movement between the spacedconveyors. comprising filling nozzles mounted on the heads for extensionand retractioninto a container on the support and withdrawal therefrom,a control circuit including, power operable means for effecting saidextension and retraction of the nozzles, a supply valve connected toeach filling head for supplying fluid through the head to the nozzle,said supply valve having two flow passages, two valves and two valveoperable means for ef fecting operation of the valves, first and secondtrips. first and second sensing means supported by each nozzle, saidfirst trip being operable by rotation of the supports to effectoperation of the power operable means to extend the nozzle andsimultaneously to effect operation of the first valve operable means toopen said first valve, said second trip being operable when the nozzleis fully extended to effect operation of the second valve operable meansto open said second valve, said first sensing means being operable whenthe liquid reaches a predetermined level to effect operation of saidsecond valve operable means to close the second valve and thereaftersaid second sensing means being operable to effect operation of saidfirst valve operable means to close the first valve and simultaneouslysaid power operable means for retracting the nozzle, said fillingoperation being initiated and terminated between the place of deliveryof containers to the supports and the place of removal of containersfrom the supports.

1. In a filling machine, a machine frame, a plurality of filling headsincluding nozzles extending downwardly therefrom and a correspondingnumber of container supports, means supporting the filling heads andcontainer supports with the nozzles centered above the supports forrotation about a vertical axis, means for supplying empty containers tothe container supports and pneumatically operative means for effectingrelative movement of the filling heads and container Supports toposition the nozzles within the containers adjacent to the bottoms forfilling and withdrawal following filling, each filling head having apneumatically operable supply valve operative to supply liquid to eachnozzle through its associated filling head, said pneumatically operablesupply valve containing a primary passage through which liquid isadapted to flow at a relatively slow rate throughout the fillingoperation and a secondary passage through which additional liquid isadapted to flow during the period between initiating the fillingoperation and terminating the filling operation, said pneumaticallyoperable supply valve including a first valve element operable to openand close the primary passage to commence and terminate the fillingoperation and a second valve element in the secondary passage to openand close the secondary passage while the liquid continues to flowthrough the primary passage, a pneumatic control circuit within whichthe pneumatically operable means and the pneumatically operable supplyvalve are included, a first trip valve in the control circuit operableat a predetermined place in the rotation of the filling heads andcontainer supports to effect operation of the pneumatically operablemeans and simultaneously the pneumatically operable supply valve to openthe first valve element simultaneously with the movement of the nozzleto said position adjacent the bottom of the container, a second tripvalve operable to effect operation of said pneumatically operable supplyvalve at said position of the nozzle adjacent the bottom of thecontainer to open the second valve element and sensing means included inthe control circuit supported together with the nozzle within thecontainer and movable into and out of the container with the nozzle,said sensing means being operative when the liquid rises in thecontainer to a predetermined level to effect operation of thepneumatically operable supply valve to close the second valve element toterminate the supplemental flow through the secondary passage withoutterminating the flow through the primary passage and thereafter toeffect operation of the pneumatically operable supply valve and thepneumatically operable means, to close the first valve element toterminate the flow through the primary passage and withdraw the nozzlefrom the container.
 2. A filling machine according to claim 1, whereinthe nozzles are arranged to be extended downwardly from the fillingheads and said means for effecting relative movement of the nozzles andcontainer supports extends the nozzles downwardly towards the containersupports into the containers and upwardly to withdraw them therefrom. 3.A filling machine according to claim 2, wherein the sensing means aresecured to the nozzles and extended therewith into the containers.
 4. Afilling machine according to claim 2, wherein the sensing meanscomprises for each nozzle two sensing elements secured to the nozzle atdifferent levels, the lower of said sensing elements operating to causethe second valve element to close and the higher of the sensing elementsoperating to cause the first valve element to close.
 5. A fillingmachine according to claim 4, wherein there is means for adjusting thelevel of the sensing elements relative to the nozzle.
 6. A fillingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary passage is of largercross-section than the primary passage.
 7. A filling machine accordingto claim 1, wherein said pneumatically operative supply valve embodiesfirst and second pneumatically operable cylinders connected respectivelyto the first and second valve elements, said first trip valve suppliesoperating pressure to the first cylinder, said second trip valvesupplies operating pressure to the second cylinder and said sensingmeans operating to successively bleed said second cylinder and then saidfirst cylinder.
 8. In a filling machine, a machine frame, upper andlower supports mounted on the frame for rotation about A vertical axis,filling heads mounted peripherally on the upper support, containersupports mounted peripherally on the lower support below the fillingheads, a nozzle extending downwardly from each filling head toward thecontainer support therebelow, said nozzle being adapted to be extendedand retracted relative to the lower support to enter it into a containerresting thereon and to retract it therefrom, pneumatically operablemeans for effecting extension and retraction, a supply valve connectedto each filling head for supplying fluid to the filling heads and fromthence to the nozzles, means for supplying containers to the lowersupport, means for rotating the supports in unison relative to the meansfor supplying containers to the lower support, said supply valve havingpneumatically operable valve means containing first and second valvesand first and second valve operating means, said first valve beingoperable to commence and terminate the filling operation and said secondvalve being operable while liquid continues to flow through the firstvalve to supplement flow through the first valve to increase the rate offilling and being operative to terminate the supplemental flow withoutterminating the flow through the first valve to decrease the rate offill, a first trip valve operable by rotational movement of the supportsas a filling head and support moves away from the means for supplyingcontainers thereto to effect operation of the pneumatically operablemeans for extending the nozzle and simultaneously to effect operation ofthe first valve operating means, a second trip valve operablesimultaneously with extension of the nozzle to the bottom of thecontainer to effect operation of the second valve operating means andsensing means supported by the nozzle and movable into the containertherewith embodying vertically spaced first and second sensing elements,said first sensing element being operative when the liquid rises in thecontainer to a predetermined level to effect operation of the secondvalve operating means and the second sensing means being operable toeffect operation of the means for extending and retracting the nozzle toretract the latter and simultaneously to effect operation of the firstvalve operating means.
 9. In a filling machine, a machine frame, upperand lower supports mounted on the frame for rotation about a verticalaxis, filling heads mounted peripherally of the upper support and acorresponding number of container supports mounted on the lower support,spaced conveyor means supported peripherally of the supports fordelivering empty containers to the container supports and receivingfilled containers therefrom, means for effecting rotation of thesupports in unision and means for filling the containers duringrotational movement between the spaced conveyors, comprising fillingnozzles mounted on the heads for extension and retraction, into acontainer on the support and withdrawal therefrom, a control circuitincluding, power operable means for effecting said extension andretraction of the nozzles, a supply valve connected to each filling headfor supplying fluid through the head to the nozzle, said supply valvehaving two flow passages, two valves and two valve operable means foreffecting operation of the valves, first and second trips, first andsecond sensing means supported by each nozzle, said first trip beingoperable by rotation of the supports to effect operation of the poweroperable means to extend the nozzle and simultaneously to effectoperation of the first valve operable means to open said first valve,said second trip being operable when the nozzle is fully extended toeffect operation of the second valve operable means to open said secondvalve, said first sensing means being operable when the liquid reaches apredetermined level to effect operation of said second valve operablemeans to close the second valve and thereafter said second sensing meansbeing operable to effect operation of said first valve operAble means toclose the first valve and simultaneously said power operable means forretracting the nozzle, said filling operation being initiated andterminated between the place of delivery of containers to the supportsand the place of removal of containers from the supports.